A YOUNG man downloaded images depicting the ‘most appalling acts of sexual degradation’ on children as young as two while living at his grandparents’ house, York Crown Court was told.

William Glover, 20, formerly of Old North Road, Brotherton, near Selby, but now of no fixed address, also possessed ‘extreme pornography’ featuring animals, said Laura Addy, prosecuting.

She said a police investigation started when officers received information about indecent images, which led them to an IP address at Glover’s grandparents home, where he was living.

During a search, officers found Glover’s white laptop and mobile phone. He said that if they found images on them, he should not be blamed, as he had downloaded them for other people and didn’t know what was in them.

He provided the password voluntarily and the cyber crime team were able to find 619 indecent images, 67 of which were of the most extreme severity, and also found indecent movie files, some of which were the most extreme.

Glover had also distributed four indecent images, two of which were in the most severe category, added Ms Addy.

Graham Parkin said in mitigation that Glover had spent two months in custody and it was something he did not want to repeat, having been bullied in prison.

He said Glover had cooperated, for example by giving investigators his password, ensuring they had immediate access to his taptop. His family felt shame at what he had done and he would not be able to live with them any more, and would have to start off at a homeless hostel.

Glover had pleaded guilty to offences including possessing and distributing indecent images and extreme pornography.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC, told him: “The ages of the children depicted in the most appalling acts of sexual degradation were between two years and nine.”

He ordered two year’s detention in a young offenders institution but suspended the sentence for two years, adding that Glover had come ‘very close indeed’ to an immediate custodial sentence.

He ordered him to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community, carry out rehabilitative activities for 40 days and go on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.